Indian Scientist | Dr Prashanth N Suravajhala | Global Indian

Global IndianstoryScientist Dr Prashanth N Suravajhala loves Tom and Jerry, Science and Research, and all things unknown

Scientist Dr Prashanth N Suravajhala loves Tom and Jerry, Science and Research, and all things unknown

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(February 5, 2024) An avid bird watcher, Dr Prashanth N Suravajhala chose not to use his mobile phone to save birds from radiation. But that was until one fine morning in 2016 when his senior colleague at the Birla Institute of Scientific Research, Jaipur left him with no choice but to start using one, immediately.

As he hesitatingly bought an instrument and began using the phone, it eventually brought to life his dream project — house sparrow (passer domesticus) genome sequencing. “The numbers of this bird have been declining in many urban areas because of electromagnetic radiations and other anthropogenic activities in recent times,” points out Dr. Prashanth, Principal Investigator of the Systems Genomics laboratory at Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala, in an exclusive with Global Indian.

Dr Prashanth N Suravajhala

It was only recently that he completed the one-of-its-kind research on house sparrows sequencing. “We finished the sequencing and assembly of its genome. We found some genes responsible for circadian rhythms in it,” smiles Dr Prashanth, who has inherent interests in exploring the known-unknown regions in the animal and human genomes. He says Passer domesticus is one of the best models for studies influencing human technological advances on life and commensal life forms in human habitats.

A PhD in Systems Biology from Aalborg University, Denmark, Dr Prashanth went on to gain more than eight years of post-doctoral experience across four reputed laboratories. One of the post-doctoral stints was at Bioinformatics.Org in Boston where he was an Associate Director between 2008-14. Another one was at Dr Haruki Nakaumra’s Lab, at Osaka University, Protein Data Bank of Japan. “These experiences enabled me to come out of my comfort zone,” says the 45-year-old. While the soft-spoken scientist has done some phenomenal work in his field, mentoring youngsters has always been his top priority.

Bioclues

Dr Prashanth founded Bioclues.org virtually in 2005 with support from some of his friends and colleagues. “With several core members and mentors, it is now India’s largest bioinformatics society working for mentor-mentee relationships through Mentoring-Outreach-Research-Entrepreneurship (MORE) verticals,” informs Dr Prashanth.

One of the primary missions of Bioclues is to encourage women scientists to take up bioinformatics besides imparting a complete understanding of the principal bioinformatics algorithms and tools through interactive summaries, polls, and discussions. “Through Bioclues, we are providing an online project platform for mentoring graduate students, while bridging the interaction of students in the field of computational biology,” says Dr Prashanth, who was awarded the Prof. SS Guraya Gold Medal in February 2023.

Dr Prashanth N Suravajhala

Among other aspects, Bioclues caters to the need to assimilate existing open-source code and develop novel tools and web servers for the research community. “Essentially, we encourage all researchers to come outside their comfort zones and think. Collaborate, Converge, and Consensus are the three C’s we are aiming at.”

Remarkably, Dr. Prashanth has produced five PhD fellows, with nine more students working with him wherein four among them have submitted their theses. “Besides this, three postdocs trained with me while I share a wonderful scientific camaraderie with several grad and undergrad fellows,” smiles Dr Prashanth, who also founded CA Prostate Consortium of India (CAPCI) and Geneticist-Clinicians Consortium of India (GCCI).

Genomic assay technologies

“I was always fascinated by the emerging genomic assay technologies including characterising mechanisms of disease prevalence, genotype-driven therapies, checking patient’s risk of disease recurrence and gene expression signatures, to name a few,” informs the scientist, who was twice awarded the Amrita Innovation and Research Award (AIRA) for excellence in publications and Best Faculty Scientist Award by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

On the other hand, he had an interest in understanding vivid post-diagnostic risk assessment tools and facilitating risk classification which would bring personalised medicine to the fore.

From Kothagudem

Dr Prashanth had a humble raising from Kothagudem, a coal city in the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh and now in Telangana. His parents Ananta Sastry and Nirmala Sastry were raised in Delhi and moved down south. “My parents, especially my mother, were my inspiration. I was drawn into biology right from school days, transformed it to its heyday where I set up my fascination with systems thinking and evolutionary biology,” says the scientist.

Dr Prashanth N Suravajhala

After trying his luck for a seat in Medicine with seven-month-long long-term coaching, in vain, he converted his failures to take up a Ph.D. in Science. While doing his B.Sc, he met his future partner Renuka. “Back then, I used to earn my pocket money through part-time teaching,” informs Dr Prashanth, who left for Denmark in 2004 for his PhD.

A brilliant mind

It was in 2016 when Dr Prashanth returned to India and set up his Systems Genomics group at Birla Institute of Scientific Research (BISR), Jaipur with an aim to carry out quality research. “I led three projects in the areas of systems genomics or rare diseases and next-generation sequencing analysis of cancers and diabetes,” he informs.

Over the last eight years, he developed an interest in long noncoding RNAs in humans, elucidating the mechanisms underpinning small molecular interactions through clinical exomes. His group has developed methods for systems genomic integration. Dr Prashanth has over 90 publications in peer-reviewed journals and edited three books as well. Between April 2022 to August 2023, he was also the Co-Principal Investigator for one-of-its-kind research on early detection, Surveillance, and prevention of Communicable Viral diseases in Jaipur city, which was a Wastewater-Based Epidemiological study.

As a Principal Investigator of the Systems Genomics laboratory at Amrita School of Biotechnology (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala), Dr Prashanth studies protein-protein interactions and top-down systems biology of hypothetical proteins, focusing on next-generation sequencing approaches to identify regulatory aspects of the genome. Apart from this, he had intermittently worked on identifying the candidate genes involved in the synthetic framework in bacteria and viruses, especially understanding what happens to host and pathogen interactions.

Dr Prashanth N Suravajhala

Dr Prashanth also got quite a few scholarships from reputed international institutions. In March 2008, he got a scholarship from ISMB/ISCB travel fellowship, in Taipei, Taiwan. In June 2008, he got another scholarship from Recomb Fellowship, Singapore. Similarly in July 2010, he got a scholarship from The International Society for Computational Biology-NY Cornell Fellowship for Cornell University Computational Biology.

The pandemic

The senior scientist says COVID has been a blessing in disguise. “During the COVID times, our group steadfastly collaborated with several peers and published some of the quality and engrossing papers with some of the top scientists in the country,” he says. Among the well-known scientists he collaborated with are Prof Gyaneshwar Chaubey of Banaras Hindu University, and Prof Keshav Singh, both experts in genetics.

Tom & Jerry

When not involved in his research work, Dr Prashanth loves to watch Tom and Jerry, Mr. Bean, and some Telugu comedy movies. He is a bookworm as well. “I buy a book during every trip and finish reading it by the time I travel. I did this across all 90+ countries I traveled,” smiles the scientist whose favourite book is “Transcendence: Conversation between APJ Abdul Kalam and Pramukh Swamiji” which he even gifted to at least 100 people.

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8 Comments

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Nirmal Kumar Lohiya

February 5, 2024 12:43 pm

Dr. Prashanth’s accomplishments are commendable & his commitments to scientific research would serve as the source of inspiration to many.

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K.Trivikramarao

February 5, 2024 12:43 pm

Congratulations.God bless you.

View Replies (1)

Vijayaraghava Seshadri Sundararajan

February 6, 2024 6:46 am

amazing guy who always think of research and goodness to society in different ways. God Bless he one day achieves Nobel Prize!

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GOPESH SHARMA

February 7, 2024 2:39 am

Dr. Prash rekindled my passion for research when I was on the verge of leaving the field. His unwavering positivity and support have led me to secure a position with a reputable organization abroad.
Thank you, sir, for your guidance and belief in me.

View Replies (1)

Published on 05, Feb 2024

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Asmita Kerkar: Helping fight food insecurity in Minnesota through design psychology

(January 10, 2023) Bernice Wimmer has been trying everything to fight the hunger crisis in the city of Alexandria in Minnesota, and was looking for support in redesigning her outreach food shelf (a point where families shop for the rescued food) to help improve shopping flow and focus on fresh food. Keen for a solution, she was still resisting the change. However, a meeting with Asmita Kerkar, the layout designer with the Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN), changed it all as she helped create dignified shopping experiences for people facing food insecurity. "Having someone experienced, who knows space design and the psychology behind it, was a gift," Bernice said. In the three years that Asmita has worked with FFEN, she has helped improve the turnout at almost seven food shelves in Minnesota through design psychology, helping create a safe platform for community engagement. [caption id="attachment_48115" align="aligncenter" width="639"] Asmita Kerkar[/caption] "Food insecurity is huge in the US," Asmita tells Global Indian. Almost 34 million people in the US are food insecure, a statistic that shocked her. "I had no idea that the hunger crisis was acute in the US. We have around 400 food shelves in Minnesota, out of which over

curity is huge in the US," Asmita tells Global Indian. Almost 34 million people in the US are food insecure, a statistic that shocked her. "I had no idea that the hunger crisis was acute in the US. We have around 400 food shelves in Minnesota, out of which over 250 have consulted with FFEN at some point." Working with a nonprofit that's helping Minnesota fight the hunger crisis by managing food shelves in the state, Asmita realised design psychology is most needed by these people as they have a stigma of shame to shop from the food shelves. "Coming from low-income families, they are unable to put food on the table every day, and are in a dilemma about choosing to pay the rent or medical bills or using the money to buy food, " says Asmita, adding, "These people get food through donations which happen mostly in spatial experiences that feel unwelcoming due to lack of choice. But what FFEN or we as spatial designers are trying to do is create a grocery store environment for these people but without exchange of money and the freedom to pick and choose."

Understanding that a space can have an impact on people's psychology, Asmita started bringing more colours to the food shelves by collaborating with artists. "Certain colours can uplift your mood. Moreover, signage plays a pivotal role as language is important. We work around environmental graphics like 'Take As Much As You Need' instead of 'Limited to 5LBS' making the experience welcoming to them." Even changing linear aisles to diagonal has helped improve the shopping experience of people at food shelves.

[caption id="attachment_48116" align="aligncenter" width="674"] Outreach food shelf[/caption]

Architecture to design psychology - shifting gears

Fashion designing was Belgaum-born Asmita's first choice but an incident made her shift gear in her career choice. Seeing a beautiful heritage home being torn down in the neighbourhood "broke her heart." This prompted her to read more about architecture and its history and led her to sit for The National Association of Students of Architecture exam. "Though I wasn't good at sketching, my dad and my teacher believed in me and encouraged me to follow my dream." After bagging a seat in Bachelor of Architecture, Asmita had an epiphany that it was the correlation between spaces and human psychology that intrigued her more than the exterior of the building.

After graduating, she took up freelancing projects for interior design leading to an interest in spatial experience design, which intensified after arriving in the US for her master's in environmental design at the ArtCenter College of Design. Learning the psychology of spaces opened up a new horizon for Asmita, and her class on Design Matters nudged her toward designing for social impact. "During my thesis, I started volunteering with FFEN as a layout designer and introduced them to the psychology of design and spaces and its impact. Seeing the feedback pushed me to look for opportunities in nonprofit," says the spatial designer, who initially worked with a corporate as sustaining on a nonprofit as an international student wasn't feasible. "However, I kept volunteering with FFEN."

Asmita Kerkar | Global Indian

Designing for social impact

Opportunity knocked on her door when FFEN approached her to work as a design strategist after receiving a part of the $147,000 grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to design Fresh Food First - food rescue toolkits to help preserve the freshness of the rescued food. "Food makes 18% of landfills in Minnesota where it breaks down and produces methane, impacting climate change. I wanted food shelves to know why it was important to save the rescued food so that it doesn't land up in landfills," she adds. Most of the rescued food comes from farmers, family donations, food drives, restaurants, and few grocery stores like Trader Joe's. "All the donated food goes to a food bank that distributes it to the food shelves. It's again dependent on supply and demand."

Asmita Kerkar

So, what are the toolkits that Asmita has created? "It's mostly guidebooks or graphical posters. In the food shelves, there is a scarcity mindset. Since the supply isn't enough, you don't have enough to showcase. How do you display less produce in a way that people think it's more? You use a tilted basket and pile up everything at an eye level. We try to design such small things that play with the mind of the person rather than their reality which you cannot change." Moreover, the toolkits create awareness in case of food shelves displaying food in wrong equipment. "Most display onions and potatoes together but are unaware that they produce ethylene gas which leads to the darkening of potatoes. Providing a list of ethylene-sensitive and ethylene producers list, helps them stock the produce in a better way. Another aspect is recycling food. Up to 2-3 weeks expired baby food can be consumed by baby animals on the farms," explains Asmita.

[caption id="attachment_48119" align="aligncenter" width="744"] McLeod Food shelf in Minnesota[/caption]

This month her team will pilot the project in seven-ten food shelves. Over the years, Asmita's work has helped create an inclusive and dignified space for people to shop. "It was also a learning experience for FFEN as to what is design psychology and why trauma-informed design is important."

Asmita, who loves baking and going on walks, measures her success by the smiles on the people's faces. "Design for social impact is what I am interested in, and knowing that my work is helping hundreds of people every day makes me content," she signs off.

Follow Asmita Kerkar on LinkedIn

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Rahul Dubey: The Indian American entrepreneur who sheltered 72 strangers in danger

Rahul Dubey’s actions speak louder than words and he displayed it on June 1 last year. That night, the Percynal Health Innovations CEO instinctively opened the doors of his three-story rowhouse in Washington DC to shelter about 72 persons who were being targeted by law enforcement for peaceful protests over the death of African-American George Floyd. Dubey, who lives with a 13-year-old son, housed the 72 hitherto strangers all night, got meals arranged for them and even negotiated with the cops. Overnight, this Indian American became a humanitarian hero not only in the United States but across the world. TIME magazine named Dubey as one of its ‘Heroes of 2020’, describing him as the "The Man Who Gave Shelter to Those in Need." But the healthcare entrepreneur feels there was nothing heroic about his act. In an exclusive interview with Global Indian, the 44-year-old said: "Anyone who would see people getting pepper sprayed all over, just getting attacked for doing something peaceful for the injustice against George Floyd, would have opened their doors for them." [embed]https://youtu.be/ycYEQCb1Q5Y[/embed] “It’s my house. You can stay here as long as you need to because they will not let you leave.” Compilation of videos from

would have opened their doors for them."

[embed]https://youtu.be/ycYEQCb1Q5Y[/embed]

“It’s my house. You can stay here as long as you need to because they will not let you leave.” Compilation of videos from that night and the morning after.

Reconstructing that night

According to the Associated Press, protesters out on the roads after Washington’s 7 p.m. curfew on June 1 last year were about to be arrested. TIME says police had set up barricades seemingly to trap protesters, and were pepper-spraying those who remained. “There was this sense of a human tsunami coming down the street and police beating people, putting faces down on cement,” Dubey told reporters later.

Sensing that things were about to go out of hand, he opened the door of his Swann Street house and yelled: ‘Get in!’ He gave Esquire magazine a more graphic picture:

“This was an out of body experience. Kids were screaming when they were running into the house. I mean, they were lining them off one by one and zip tying them.”

Some went upstairs, some downstairs and others into the garden.

The University of Michigan-Ross School of Business graduate ministered to this scared, tired crowd who had nowhere to go for the night – some aged 70, some as young as 16.

“People were coughing, crying, strangers pouring milk into strangers’ eyes,” Dubey told TIME “They were sharing information, writing down numbers for bail bondsmen. It was this real camaraderie.”

One protestor, who just goes by the name Meka, recalled later on Twitter: “They shot mace at peaceful protesters is a residential neighborhood. The man who took us in is named Rahul Dubey. He gave us business cards in case they try to say we broke in.”

https://twitter.com/MekaFromThe703/status/1267638186676834306?s=20

A couple of cops reportedly attempted to breach his sanctuary by posing as protesters and by trying to intercept the pizzas he had ordered for the 72. Dubey tried to be the negotiator but when matters reached a deadlock, he advised his guests to stay put until the next morning.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1267697465400197120

The aftermath

Dubey’s spur-of-the-moment decision brought along new friendships with 72 persons he now calls family. "There isn't a day that goes by when I don't hear from at least one of them, such are the bonds that have been created, " Dubey told Global Indian.

He has become of the Most Googled Indians since he got the ‘Heroes of 2020’ recognition. People who know Dubey, like Kishan Putta, a neighborhood commissioner in DC, say he has always been a very caring, generous person who tries to do the right things.

Indian American heritage

Dubey believes his Indian American roots and penchant for travel have played a big role in molding his approach. Dubey’s father came to the US at the age of 19 with just eight dollars in his pocket. “As a child, he would visit India quite often and witness firsthand how his family helped the marginalized, irrespective of religion. “Being an Indian-American and having the blessings of both the beautiful culture of India, the sacredness and piousness of it, the problems of it as well and the opportunities of America, the diversity it brings and the power of people there, has helped shape me more than anything else."

[caption id="attachment_3483" align="alignnone" width="1079"] Rahul Dubey with his new friends at his home.[/caption]

Healthcare entrepreneur

A globe-trotter who has visited 25 countries, Dubey is a successful healthcare founder who started America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Innovation Lab. He was awarded Smart Health's 2018 Excellence in Healthcare Transformation Award and named in the American Journal of Health Promotion's 2017 Innovators and Game Changers list.

But being an Indian American can be a challenging identity at times. "When you are isolated in the suburbs of white mid-west America and suburbs of Detroit, trying to adopt an identity of your surroundings, the biggest challenge was to fit in and understand who I really am. That was something I struggled for a good 20-25 years of my life."

Dubey says he has faced racism all throughout his life in the US but remains optimistic about the future. Speaking to India Today, he said:

“What I need to do is find the identity of the role the Indian American is going to play in this transformation of America, in the transformation of this world that is coming out of Covid, coming out of systemic racism.

[caption id="attachment_3484" align="alignnone" width="409"] Rahul Dubey “They were sharing information, writing down numbers for bail bondsmen. It was this real camaraderie.”[/caption]

Hanuman Chalisa

Interestingly, the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ has been Dubey’s constant companion for the past 11 years. The Hindu poetic verses make things a little more beautiful and more optimistic, especially on the rough patches, he says.

Today, Dubey is proud of his Indian American heritage and is keen to represent that even in the remotest corners of the world. “I want to be in the Andes rainforest and interact with people who have never interacted with anyone from the Indian descent. I want to reiterate our values upon other cultures, take their values and see the similarities between the values."

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Abhishek Dubey: Creating India’s international Taekwondo stars while navigating life in Korea

(October 8, 2024) A seasoned coach, athlete, sports professional, and researcher Abhishek Dubey has spent over 18 years working in and out of Korea, the birthplace of Taekwondo, creating his own mark in the world of the martial arts. Korea’s deep-rooted connection to Taekwondo, with its rich history and tradition in the sport, has made his time there even more impactful. For the past 24 years, Abhishek has also been running Mumbai-based Indo-Korean Taekwondo Academy which has produced international athletes who have brought laurels for India. Abhishek’s work bridges the cultural and martial arts heritage of Korea with the growing Taekwondo scene in India, solidifying his standing in both the nations. Recently, when one of his athletes, Rupa Bayor, achieved a world ranking of 9 and an Asian ranking of 2, it was a moment of great joy for Abhishek. “She is the first Indian to come in Top 10 World Rankings," the coach shares with Global Indian with pride. "Seeing how sports can act as a means of intervention, especially for athletes from underprivileged backgrounds, is the most satisfying part of this journey,” he reflects. “It’s not just about winning medals—it’s about how sports can change lives.” [caption id="attachment_57520"

athletes from underprivileged backgrounds, is the most satisfying part of this journey,” he reflects. “It’s not just about winning medals—it’s about how sports can change lives.”

[caption id="attachment_57520" align="aligncenter" width="532"] Indian sports coach | Abhishek Dubey | Global Indian Abhishek Dubey[/caption]

Falling in love with Taekwondo

Growing up in the suburbs of Chembur, Mumbai, the celebrated Taekwondo coach spent his childhood immersing himself in the offerings of the sports club at RCF Colony. In 1991, when he was 11, a newly established Taekwondo club at the sports facility caught his eye with its crisp uniforms and disciplined training sessions. What began as a mere curiosity quickly evolved into a lifelong passion. Under the guidance of Master Sunil Saxena and Late Rajesh Menon, Abhishek embarked on a journey in Taekwondo, eventually representing India at international events and winning numerous medals.

Abhishek’s expertise and deep passion for the martial art not only shaped his own life but also had a great impact on the athletes he coached, many of whom have gained international recognition and rankings in Taekwondo. His dedication to the sport also led to a lasting connection with South Korea, where he continues to work professionally in the field of Taekwondo. He is also pursuing a PhD at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, focusing on sports as development tool in empowering women.

From athlete to coach

As an athlete, Abhishek Dubey’s achievements speak volumes. From participating in the SAI Open Nationals in 2001, narrowly missing a medal at the Korea Open in 2012, to winning gold and the Best Poomsae Athlete Award at the 2013 Korean Ambassador’s Cup, his career is filled with moments of personal triumph. Yet, he humbly acknowledges that his most significant accomplishments lie not in his individual accolades but in his role as a coach.

[caption id="attachment_57523" align="aligncenter" width="748"] Indian sports coach | Abhishek Dubey | Global Indian Coach Abhishek during the training for the 8th Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Vietnam[/caption]

He has nurtured medalist for India at the 2024 Asian Taekwondo Championships, Australian Open, Oceania Open, WT President Cup Oceania, WT President Cup Europe, Croatia Open, XIII South Asian Games, VI Commonwealth Taekwondo C'ships Scotland, 2015 Korea Open, and the 2010 Yeongcheon Open.

The Indo-Korean Taekwondo Academy in Mumbai, which he co-founded with his childhood friend Chakrapani Koirala at the age of 20, just before graduating from university, embodies his commitment to the martial art. “What began as a part-time club has blossomed over the last 24 years into a training ground for elite athletes. Above all, it is a place for good Taekwondo practitioners with rich human values,” he says.

Watching his athletes gain international success

His greatest fulfilment as a coach comes from watching his athletes achieve international success. Some of his proudest moments include Ishee Pardeshi’s victory at the Yeongcheon Open in 2010, her triumph at the 2014 Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships, and her strong performances at the Croatia Open and the Asian Championships.

“The journey has been fulfilling every day," he reflects. Recently, seeing one of his athletes, Rupa Bayor, win India’s first Asian medal in Taekwondo Poomsae has been especially satisfying for him. “Considering the challenges she faced, coming from a background where opportunities are scarce, her success is even more meaningful. When she first arrived in Mumbai on our scholarship program, she wasn’t ranked in the top 500 WT World rankings, and today she’s ranked 9th in the world and 2nd in Asia, becoming the first Indian to come in Top 10 World Rankings. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how sports can serve as a means of intervention, helping to shape a young athlete’s career and life,” he mentions.

[caption id="attachment_57521" align="aligncenter" width="657"] Indian sports coach | Abhishek Dubey | Global Indian Coach Abhishek Dubey with Athlete Rupa Bayor[/caption]

Special connection with Korea

Abhishek has been traveling to Korea since 2007 for international Taekwondo championships and sports education, continuing until 2015.

Then in 2015, he received a full scholarship from the Sports and Culture Ministry of the Republic of Korea to pursue a Master's in Global Sports Management, which opened new doors in sports research and management. “Since then, I’ve been involved in research work on sports for development. So yes, it’s been 18 years of going back and forth between Korea, and now I’ve been pursuing my Ph.D. since 2020," he says.

Abhishek is writing his thesis on the impact of sports development programs in empowering women in India. “It’s been overwhelming and time-consuming. At times, my professional commitments have derailed my Ph.D., but seeing young athletes grow in the sport brings me immense joy,” says the coach who frequently returns to India to nurture elite athletes who represent the country.

It’s exhausting at times - managing the academy and athlete development in India, and my research and other professional engagements in Korea - but I continue my PhD without neglecting my duties towards Taekwondo because I believe that while there are plenty of PhD scholars in India, there is yet to be a world champion in our sport. That’s my quest: to create one in the near future.

Abhishek remarks

Celebrating Taekwondo and its Korean heritage

Taekwondo is more than just a sport in Korea; it is a national treasure. It promotes perseverance, respect, humility, and integrity in practitioners who are taught to uphold these values in their daily lives. The sport is often integrated into school curricula, emphasising its importance in the formation of character and discipline by training the body and mind of the youngsters.

[caption id="attachment_57522" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Indian sports coach | Taekwondo Star | Global Indian Abhishek Dubey at the International Referee Seminar conducted by the World Taekwondo Federation where he became the first Indian Taekwondo Referee to win the coveted Best Participant Award for Kyoroogi in South Korea[/caption]

Taekwondo is one of the oldest martial arts of the world, originating in Korea over 2,000 years ago. The name reflects its essence: Tae (foot), Kwon (hand), Do (art). Its roots can be traced back to ancient Korean martial arts, including Taekkyeon and Hwa Rang Do, practiced by warriors and royal families. Taekwondo began to take shape as a unified martial art form under the influence of various masters who sought to promote Korean culture and heritage after the Korean war (1950-53). In 1955, the term ‘Taekwondo’ was officially adopted, and the sport quickly gained popularity both in Korea and internationally.

Translating to ‘the way of the foot and fist,’ Taekwondo has become a global phenomenon, and Abhishek is proud to play his part in it. “It’s been a beautiful experience. Will always be indebted to the love, knowledge, friendships and bonds that have been built through the sport of Taekwondo in Korea,” he remarks.

Life in Korea

Abhishek has worked as a researcher with the Seoul Olympic Museum, served as a Communication Manager for the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games, and worked as a Research Assistant at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, describing it as “an experience of a lifetime.” He shares, “I cherish every opportunity that my 18 years of travel in and out of Korea have brought to my life, and I love engaging with the sport and culture here.”

[caption id="attachment_57526" align="aligncenter" width="720"] Indian sports coach | Taekwondo star with Kukkiwon President Grandmaster Man Soon Jung in 2014 | Global Indian Abhishek Dubey with Kukkiwon President Grandmaster Man Soon Jung in 2014[/caption]

The coach and researcher can communicate in Korean, having studied the language during his university days in Korea. “I am still trying to learn more,” he remarks.

An ambassador of India in Korea

The Indian community in Korea is diverse, consisting of professionals, students, and skilled workers who contribute significantly to various sectors, including technology, education, hospitality, and business. “Of late, the India diaspora is growing especially with students and people in the IT industry,” remarks Abhishek.

Many Indian students are attracted to Korea's advanced educational institutions and its emphasis on research and innovation. Scholarships and programs aimed at international students have further encouraged this trend, with Abhishek serving as a prime example.

As a professional, scholar, and coach in the world of Taekwondo, a national heritage of Korea, Abhishek Dubey is contributing to strengthening Indo-Korean ties in his own way.

[caption id="attachment_57525" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Indian sports coach | Indian coach | Global Indian Abhishek Dubey[/caption]

Plans for future - giving back and elevating India’s position

Abhishek aims to apply his expertise in both sports management and the martial art form to support the growth of India's Taekwondo community in different capacities and in several meaningful ways.

“I would love to establish an Elite Athlete Taekwondo Training Program/Center for youth from marginalised communities in India and develop a concrete plan to create India’s first World Champion in the Olympics,” he signs off with a determination to keep empowering the next generation of athletes and elevate India's presence in the global Taekwondo rankings.

Follow Abhishek Dubey on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

Reading Time: 5 mins

The ‘Batterman’: How Mani Krishnan became California’s ‘dosa king’

(April 20, 2023) The year was 2003. Subramanian 'Mani' Krishnan was broke in the Bay Area, with a wife and two kids to feed. Work would begin early, by 7 am, when Krishnan and his wife, Anandhi, would begin preparing freshly-fermented dosa batter at their home in San Jose. Then, Krishnan would leave his house in San Jose, his car packed with 32-ounce containers filled to the brim. He would go from one grocery store to the next, requesting them to sell his batter. Mani Krishnan was in his forties, then, and had mortaged his house for his dosa batter business. "I thought it's better to be miserable on your own than to work for someone else and be more miserable," he reasoned. His idea was not new - there were many small-time, homespun ventures making dosa batter. A handful of stores agreed to stock his product, only if it sold. Still, demand was rising and Krishnan's USP was his scientific method, his use of technology and the fact that he followed the FDA guidelines. Twenty years later, Mani Krishnan, the founder of Shastha Foods, is the undisputed 'dosa king' of the USA. Shastha Foods has sold over 170 million

lank" rel="noopener">Shastha Foods, is the undisputed 'dosa king' of the USA.

Shastha Foods has sold over 170 million 'south Indian crepes', as they are lovingly known by the non-Indian population. With the courage to take a risk, the determination to rise up from very challenging circumstances and unwavering belief in the potential that his childhood breakfast food - the dosa - held, Mani Krishnan doesn't just sell food - he introduced South India's best loved dish to an appreciative global audience. "I want to sell a billion dosas," he often remarks. The company has 350 stores across the the US and Canada, functioning out of 35,000 sq ft, state-of-the-art manufacturing unit. Shastha's dosa batter is a staple in Indian households in the west. The immensely popular video of Vice President Kamala Harris and Mindy Kaling making a masala dosa also features Shastha dosa batter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz7rNOAFkgE

Journey to the USA

Mani was born in Thirunelveli, a small town in Tamil Nadu (famous for its halwa, made from milk and wheat berries). Like so many thousands of others before him, Mani Krishnan arrived in the USA, in 1977, to join his family. He had a degree in commerce and some experience as an accountant in Mumbai. His family, who had moved there a few years prior, were living in San Jose, where Mani also set up his base.

He found a job at a tech company, realising early on that he didn't want to work for someone else. So, he set up a hardware export business, sending hard disk drives, motherboards and processors to India. Business did well at first - this was at the start of the dot-com boom and although times were rough, Mani decided to stick with it. By the time the 1990s came to an end, the company folded. "When that business went south, I came to a point where I had to re-build my life from scratch. I was in my 40s then," the Global Indian said.

Mani had to make ends meet, he had a family to sustain. He knew the export-import business and could see the Indian diaspora - and its demands - grow over the years. He decided to bring filter coffee powder, which every South Indian loves and longs for, to the US. It led to his million-dollar-idea - making idli and dosa batter. He noticed a rising demand for food - the Indian diaspora was growing and they longed for home food. Dosa and idli are the morning staples at most South Indian homes but making the batter is a time-consuming process. “We stumbled upon the idea to sell idli batter in 2003; we did not do a formal market study but we made an observation; it was the phase when there was a steady rise in Indian nuclear families in the US and people had no time to buy the rice, soak it, grind it and allow it to ferment," he recalled. Mani cashed in, mortgaging his house to help him get started.

[caption id="attachment_37572" align="aligncenter" width="532"] Mani Krishnan[/caption]

Challenges to opportunities

This was 2003, and after the initial investment, Mani was left with very little. Failure just wasn’t an option. His wife, Anandhi, joined him and they began working out of their home kitchen, doing everything from manufacturing, to labelling and distribution. The couple would rise early, getting to work by 7 am and sitting by the 2-litre grinder to make dosa batter. After the batter was made and packed into 32-ounce containers, Mani would begin the hard journey around San Jose, dealing with sceptical grocery store owners.

"In good faith, I would leave our products with them. I would make regular calls to take follow-ups and even have to drive back to collect all the unsold packets and discard them," he recalled. It was this perfectionism, this unerring attention to detail and top-class customer service, which paved the way for his success, much like Mafat Patel, co-founder of the Patel Bros chain of grocery stores. "There were already players in the market. I think the system that I created helped me maintain quality, ensure consistency in delivery and also scale up. I am proud to say that it is Indian technology in the US," Mani said.

The Shastha Foods empire

At the end of their first year in business, Mani had paid off his mortgage and his delivery system had been upgraded from the backseat of his car to a refrigerated truck. "Soon, we out-grew that and we invested in small refrigerated trucks," he said. These days, the delivery department is buzzing everyday, with over a dozen refrigerated trucks travelling through the city. There were challenges, though. The first was the ingredients themselves - rice and dal, which he bought from Africa, Dubai and the USA.

Over, 12,500 kilos of batter are made everyday, at the San Jose headquarters of Shastha Foods. The process, which Mani takes great pride in, is completely automated. Rice and dal are loaded onto an automatic weighing and dispensing machine, then soaked in water. The ingredients are cleaned and loaded on to custom-made stone grinders. "Every minute, four containers of Shastha idli batter are being sold across the US," Mani told The Hindu. In 2017, the company also launched its organic products and they make batter with millet, as well as an Ayurvedic Khichdi mix.

[caption id="attachment_37574" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Shastha Food's millet khichdi[/caption]

Customer is always king

Mani takes nothing for granted, he says. "For us, service and quality is paramount.So, if due to unforeseen circumstances, any item goes bad, I make sure to take personal responsibility for that and either issue a full refund or replacement." As often as he could, Mani would drive up to meet customers personally, to take back a sub-par product and replace it.

Shastha Food now offers some 16 varieties of dosa batters and also sells essentials like rice, lentils, dals, pickles, sweets and millet-based items. And even after such success, Mani remains humble, a staunch advocate of high thinking and simple living. "A large house or a luxurious lifestyle was never a goal for me," he said. "I know from experience that money comes and goes and so I wanted to create something that could make a meaningful difference."

Follow Shastha Foods on Instagram and Mani Krishnan on LinkedIn.

Meet Teja Chekuri, the global F&B maverick who shaped India’s craft beer market

(August 7, 2023) How does a young engineer end up as the President of a company that owns a chain of restaurants, microbreweries the size of a gated community, and other food and beverage hotspots that are perennially popular? Teja Chekuri is one such entrepreneur born with vision and foresight. He says, in an exclusive with Global Indian, “After my master’s at Gannon University in Eire, Pennsylvania, I worked at Metlife and UPS. Then I set up my own IT services company. While travelling around the US, I observed that microbreweries were popular and I thought of setting up one in India. I was planning to move back to India and there were three cities with microbreweries already running – Bengaluru, Pune and Gurgaon. I saw the opportunity, wanted to have the early mover advantage and decided to go for it.” [caption id="attachment_43334" align="aligncenter" width="441"] Teja Chekuri, founder of the microbrewery Prost, in Hyderabad.[/caption] Microbreweries to Macro Businesses Teja’s food and beverage outlets span across India, the US and Canada. He started with Prost, a microbrewery, in Koramangala, Bengaluru in 2012. Though hailing from Telangana, the lack of permissions made him choose Bengaluru; he eventually launched Prost in Hyderabad in

Teja’s food and beverage outlets span across India, the US and Canada. He started with Prost, a microbrewery, in Koramangala, Bengaluru in 2012. Though hailing from Telangana, the lack of permissions made him choose Bengaluru; he eventually launched Prost in Hyderabad in 2016.

Simultaneously, based on his observations of the Indian cuisine served in the US, he decided to set up a chain of restaurants that would be unapologetic about their spicy foundation – essentially Andhra and Telangana food – not tweaked to suit the American palate. “In 2015, we launched Godavari in Woburn, 20 minutes away from Boston, Massachusetts. We did not want to do the sweetened versions of curries. We were not afraid to make it spicy; why should we change our food?” he asks.

[caption id="attachment_43320" align="aligncenter" width="581"] Prost Prost, Hyderabad.[/caption]

It might have seemed risky to many but incredibly, Godavari received a positive response, and is now in over 30 locations across the US and in Toronto, Canada. With plans to launch 21 more branches in the near future, with the latest ones set up in Denver, Colorado and Princeton, New Jersey, Godavari is present in Delaware, Toronto, Tampa, Jersey City, Minneapolis, Orange County, Atlanta, Columbus, Woburn, Philadelphia, Naperville, Houston, Schaumburg, Kansas, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Edison, Hartford, Herndon, Morrisville and Rhode Island etc. Despite 30-40 per cent of the menu changing once a year, the thali, the Andhra Chicken Curry and the Hyderabadi Dum Biryani are its most popular items. Godavari also serves idlis, dosas, sambar and rice and uluvacharu – dishes familiar to the fairly large Telugu speaking diaspora. And, the flagship Woburn restaurant, is still the biggest crowd puller, contributing over 300,000 USD to the company’s turnover every month.

Expanding Indian Cuisine’s Frontiers

Under the Godavari Group of Restaurants in the US, Teja continued to expand. Following the quick service restaurant model, Vaanga, serving fusion Indian food was started in 2017 in Boston. He then launched Madras Dosa Company [MDC] in 2021 in Seaport and Harvard Square, in the same city. He refers to MDC as a “Subway for dosas with a set menu – two kinds of batters, two chutneys [coconut and ginger; peanut is not used due to people’s allergies] and toppings like karam podi, sweet chocolate, onion, Horlicks, and more. There is even a Lays [chips] and an ice cream dosa available for kids. We are now looking to launch MDC at Times Square in New York too,” he reveals.

This was followed by 1947 – Truly Indian – a fine dining brand serving North and South Indian cuisine in Norwood, Massachusetts also in 2021. The next two ventures he has lined up for Boston include an Indian gastro bar called ‘Don’t Tell Aunty’, serving fusion food, and drinks concocted with Indian spices. The other is Boston Halal, following the quick service restaurant model, serving Mediterranean food.

[caption id="attachment_43322" align="aligncenter" width="692"] Prost Madras Dosa Company, Seaport.[/caption]

This year, Teja incorporated all his brands into the Golden Horn Company, of which he is the President. His initial investment of six crore rupees now fetches a neat turnover of Rs 250 crore. In the US, his partner who handles operations is Kaushik Koganti and Sree Harsha Vadlamudi partners him in India.

The company has clearly defined roles and demarcations. He says, “Every menu goes through six months of trials and tests; we have streamlined operations and 40 staff members oversee different departments for all the chains. Maintaining the highest standards is a must. It was tougher to get permissions and licenses in some cities and others were easier. But, ensuring that all the dishes taste the same across the outlets remains a challenge.”

The India Growth Story

Next on the anvil is Pangeo – a lounge bar on Bengaluru’s Brigade Road, spread over 20,000 square feet – to be launched shortly. And the world’s largest microbrewery spread over two acres, or 1.4 lakh square feet, in Marthahalli in Bengaluru again. Teja is looking at opening new outlets in Hebbal, Kanakapura and cities like Nagpur. Purple Potato, in Hyderabad’s Financial District, serving what he calls borderless cuisine, is also due to open its doors shortly.

Milestones and More

What could perhaps be his company’s biggest milestone this year though, has been his investment of buying a whopping nine franchises of Dunkin’ Donuts in the US. He says, “For two years, we have been trying to acquire these franchises. The company has very stringent rules about who they give them to. After evaluating us for a long time, they gave us their approval. We invested 18 million USD into acquiring nine of them in different locations.”

How does he stay ahead of the game? It is almost like he knows what is going to be the next big trend and gets on it before his competitors do. He says, “The food and beverage market is a volatile one. If you want to grow, you have to keep changing and evolving. You have to know what people want to eat when they dine out, all over the world. Currently, pan-Asian food is the popular trend.”

[caption id="attachment_43335" align="aligncenter" width="639"] Pangeo lounge bar, Bengaluru.[/caption]

If he didn’t have enough on his plate already, Teja has also been nominated to the Forbes Business Council, a prestigious networking platform where he is expected to give advice as a mentor, write articles and be part of expert panels, in business affairs.

With a busy lifestyle, long hours included, how does he maintain a work-life balance? He says, “I travel a lot for work, but when I am in Hyderabad, I make it a point to go home early to spend time with my wife and two daughters. I go to the gym every day and I catch up on my reading on flights.”

Teja’s career trajectory seems unstoppable with multiple food and beverage venues. His business could well become a case study at a business school in the future.

Follow Teja Chekuri on Instagram and on his website.